stefndoug

1 hour ago, Fouremco said:

A full list of the types of tests accepted for entry:

 

Accepted types of molecular tests

• PCR - Polymerase chain reaction
• Nucleic acid test (NAT) or Nucleic acid amplification test (NAATs)
• Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP)

These tests use methods such as a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab, nose swab, or saliva sample.

• Rapid antigen tests aren't accepted. X

Other acceptable types of tests

• RT-PCR – reverse transcription real time PCR
• Quantitative PCR (qPCR)
• Isothermal amplification
• Droplet digital PCR or digital droplet PCR (ddPCR)
• Transcription-mediated amplification (TMA)
• RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
• Ct (cycle threshold)
• CRISPR
• Sequencing
• Next generational sequencing (NGS) or whole genome sequencing (WGS)
• Oxford Nanopore sequencing (LamPORE)
• Detection of the N gene
• Detection of Orf1a/b
• Detection of the S gene
• Detection of the E gene
• Detection of the RdRp gene

drives me nuts that the news always says PCR and never mentions the others...which you can easily find for free in most US states...just means a little research.  So far haven't had to pay for any of our rapid tests to get back home to Canada.

20 hours ago, mikil321 said:

Yes  RCCL said you must be fully vaccinated , have a antigen test to get embark onto the ship (Not a PCR test Antigen is cheaper)and to proceed into a US port like Alaska. Now the trickey part, When you disembark the ship in Seattle Washington you WILL have to find somewhere in Seattle that does a PCR test (Not Antigen) . According to Canadian Border Services and the Canadian Government websites as of "right now" (always subject to change) a PCR test will be needed to enter into Canada "regardless" of how you get back Air, Sea or Land! You will also need to fill out the ArriveCan receipt paper or electronic also prior to starting your trip. I know its a pain in the ass but we are staying overnight in Seattle anyway so hopefully we will have enough time to get a PCR test done? Good Luck

you don't need a PCR to get back into Canada...a NAAT one will do.  Rapid Molecular will work.  You just cant use a rapid Antigen.  I am Canadian...been using the ARrivecan app many times already.  I am getting good at answering all the questions already LOL

We aren't staying overnight in Seattle, so we would have to find a Rapid ID Now from Walgreens to do first before heading back...thankfully we could stop at the Outlet Disney Store on the way home while we wait for the results...so we do have options, but not sure if it is worth it.

16 minutes ago, JCP3 said:

Here’s an update from the writer’s account 

https://markmcelroy.com/letters-from-the-quarantine-cabin/

Thank you so much for the posts.  You are a great writer and I am enjoying reading it.  Thank you for being so positive out of such a negative situation.  Stay strong and safe.

Stefani

22 minutes ago, mikil321 said:

Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions much appreciated

Like everyone is saying here its too far away to know 100% whats happening with covid testing by then. After doing some research though and calling Royal Carribean I do know this, to embark on the ship you need proof of being fully vaccinated, and must have a antigen or PCR test 72 hours prior to boarding ship. This is needed to enter the US (alaska for example seeing its an Alaska cruise) As of getting off the ship, you dont need anything because you have already gone into the USA(Alaska) and proved your ok! so disembarking into Seattle is not the problem. Now the problem arrises when we are in Seattle and we NEED to get back to Canada via, airlines,train, car etc.... (as of right now with Canada Border Services) A PCR test needs to be done before crossing the border. These tests are avaliable at an average of $200 to $250 per person US dollars which is like a million Canadian dollars ha ha! You also NEED a arriveCan receipt, paper or electronic upon entry to Canada. Also may I say that even with all the correct documentation you "Can" be randomly selectedly by Canadian Border Services to take place in a quarantine program???

In closing , this trip was a present from our daughter and son in law so yes we will still go on the cruise BUT if we had our way we would have done a Vancouver to Vancouver trip like all said avbove. We just dont want to upset our daughter by cancelling! The cost of all the testing is crazy 2 tests in Canada at about $140 each =$280 Can and two tests in Seattle Washington at $250 each =$500US= about $650 Canadian thats almost $930 for just testing WOW!!!! And on top of that we are staying in seattle over night before flying back to Edmonton. The cost of the hotel about $250 US

All in all the cost of the hotels, Vancouver, Seattle and all the covid testing costs MORE than the cruise itself WOW! You wonder why people are putting off travel

Thanks everyone for your help much appreciated

We have the 4 night Vancouver to SEattle cruise on Princess in May...if Canada hasn't changed the rules for coming back across the land border for testing...I don't think we will pay our final payment.  I don't want to have to get off the ship and then find a testing place before we drive home....and I would assume we need to test to get on the ship, which isn't cheap here in Vancouver.   

22 hours ago, MT_Sea_Cruisers said:

Has  anyone (cruising on Carnival), utilized the COVID Test site available at the Long Beach Airport?

I see they have rapid testing available for $20, with results available within 2 hours, however, it appears to be geared for travelers going to Hawaii and I am wondering if the same test is acceptable for cruising passengers.

https://www.longbeach.gov/globalassets/lgb/news/2021/faqs-for-covid-19-testing-at-lgb

 

I have used that location to get our test done for going back into Canada and we didn't fly out of that airport.  It worked really well the customer service was amazing.

everytime i cross the land border, I get this email.  I have done it 4 times in 3 weeks...only the first time do you panic LOL

We are doing a 4 night Alaska Sampler...Vancouver to Seattle.  Rent a car from Seattle and return to Vancouver Airport the next day.  That is what we are doing (and yes I have done this before on the same kind of cruise).  As for testing...we go in May...who the heck knows.  I expect to have to find a place to test in Seattle before coming home.  Thankfully there are some rapid Molecular testing places along the way at Walgreens or CVS (free), or that the cruiseline will do something for us (but not expecting that)

we love the Alaska sampler and do it often.  It's affordable and you get a taste of Alaska.  For me it involves no flights either so it's win/win

On 9/8/2021 at 8:43 PM, scottbee said:

I can't find an antigen for under $130 in BC

 

Hello, shoppers, please?......

 

 

Thats because apparently LIfe Labs has the monoply here in BC and so we are stuck with paying the high prices they want to charge.

my cousin (sailing Royal Caribbean next month), flew to Seattle and got a third dose so that he could travel next month on Royal.  He had a mixed dose like you and now he has 2 of the same one.  Not ideal, but he wanted to cruise, so he did what he had to so he could.

34 minutes ago, bnurick said:

StefnDoug, we are Disney freaks.  So it’s in my blood!  Have a magical day too!

 

Your welcome.  I haven’t posted in years, but thought I would for this one.  I’m learning from the questions too.  Chef’s Table tonight with wine pairing, beyond stoked for this experience!

I'm a Disney freak too 🙂  

15 minutes ago, bnurick said:

Hey Josie, so I didn’t answer because I didn’t know!  😂 I just walked by and asked someone waiting and was told it is $100 per person.  Have a magical day!

"Have a magical day"...you sound like a Disney Cast Member 😉  

thank you so very much for posting.  I am stuck in Canada and can't leave, so being able to read this is amazing.  The light at the end of the tunnel is getting so much brighter.

Stefani

On 3/19/2021 at 10:52 AM, terrydtx said:

My understanding is the second shot has to be administered  28 to 35 days between the first to be fully effective, if this is the case a 4 month wait does no good anyway.

Our Provincial doctor says science says it can be 4 months between shots...don't...even....get...me...started.

1 minute ago, Fouremco said:

Was that with a stop in another US port?

yuppers...did Maui, and Big Island for sure.  It was round trip Honolulu.  Trying to remember which cruiselines did it.  For sure NCL (before they had their 3 flagged US ships...down to only 1 now), and I think Princess too.

1 hour ago, Fouremco said:

Some cruises that went on from Hawaii to the South Pacific might have visited Fanning Island, which lies about 1,000 miles to the South of Hawaii, but I wasn't aware of US-Hawaii or Hawaii-US cruises visiting Fanning Island to meet the requirements of the PVSA. That would add a huge amount of time to a cruise.

They used to do 10 night cruises out of Honolulu (round trip) and the 1 stop was Fanning Island as the foreign stop.  

Hawaii cruises used to go to Fanning Island to meet the foreign port rule...wonder what happened to that.

4 hours ago, jmcancruise said:

I would buy this in a heartbeat as DH's birthday is at the end of March, but am in Canada and although we have a U.S. mailbox, living only 5 minutes from the border, we can not cross to pick something up.  This really stinks, any idea how to make this happen.

Same problem with me...live in Surrey, BC...so used to sending stuff to the US postal place to save on high shipping fees

We did a Mexican cruise out of Long Beach that went to San Fransico, Seattle and Victoria...and back to Long Beach.  So kind of the reverse of what you want 😉

2 hours ago, AmberTeka said:

Am I over hopefull?  People on this site stay caught up on the crusing news. I would love to hear some opinions.

Is it going to a Canadian port at all?  If so...i doubt it.  We have no end in sight for our borders opening up...I am hoping for September...but that may be wishful thinking.

5 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

My travel agent is in Canada, and posts a lot, so I know. And I said same same, that I dont see alaska happening because of canadas closed border. Canadians can fly here no test, cant fly home without quarantine etc. 

 

Alaska is toast lol until canada opens its border.

 

I got my first vaccination I'll be ready to get out but cruises wouldnt br happening. Let's hope as vaccinations kick in the positives go down. I'm going to wait for 2023 for alaska. No hurry since I've been there.

I hear the US is going to require a negative Covid test now for anyone flying into the US.  That is going to changes things a little.  

Yup, been to Alaska a number of times...it is our easy cruise...hop onto the skytrain and viola...we are at the cruise port 🙂

1 minute ago, HaveWeMetYet said:

The simulation written about in the article is for the flow of luggage and passengers within the cruise terminal. It has nothing to do with protocols on the ships.

and trust me...it needs it.  I live near the Vancouver port and we do a lot of cruises from Vancouver as we don't have to fly to get there...it is the worst port for organization of people.  Sure hope it has gotten better because that is a port that can't handle more than 1 ship of people very well at all.

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

Yes but all the cruises from Vancouver are because they go to usa ports.

 

I agree these simulations aren't for the cdc. I am pretty sure alaska this summer is toast. Canada still has their border blocked to americans.

Even as a Canadian...if I leave the country, when I come back into Canada, I have to get a negative covid test AND quarantine for 14 days...which means if I do an Alaska cruise...I have to quarantine too.  So that means everyone coming off a ship (no matter where you are from) would have to quarantine.  This is the main reason why I don't think there will be a Alaska season this year.  But...maybe between our two countries, the next few months will see a great reductions in cases...one can hope (and dream).

loved reading your post.  Thank you so much.

3 hours ago, bigbenboys said:

Yes, I just did not understand canceling the Asia cruises. And still hoping for cruises to start up from the US. Have the ships be updated to cope with COVID yet?

You do know that Japan isn't allowing any international visitor's until Spring 2021 right?